The Shy Witch

Chapter 50

Chapter 50

"All right everyone, pair up and practice some fist fights." Coach Masters called out. Daniel and I looked at each other, knowing we would be each other's partner. We both stood up and walked over to a mat, preparing for a fight. I held up my fists playfully, and so did he. 

"Don't mess with me Annalise," Daniel called. "I'll take you down!"

I giggled. "Yeah? Well I'm the one in training. I'd like to see you try!"

Daniel ran at me and put his arms around me. He lifted me up and threw me over his shoulder. He started spinning as I laughed and laughed.

"Who's the master now?" He taunted.

"JENKINS!"

Daniel put me down right away and we both turned to the voice. Coach Masters was standing in front of the gym, and he did not look happy.

"Over here, now!" 

Daniel looked at me with a worried look on his face, then slowly made his way over to the front of the gym to Coach Masters.

"Yes sir?"

"Stand on the mat. Now." Masters said sternly, pointing to the mat next to him. By this point the gym was silent, and everyone was staring at him. Daniel stepped on the mat nervously. "Ryder! Get over here!"

Ryder looked confused, but he also walked up to the front of the gym. 

"Ryder, why don't you show Daniel here how to fight?" Masters suggested. "Maybe a good beating will remind him not to mess around in my classroom."

"What?" Ryder questioned. "Of course not." 

Coach Masters looked at him angrily. "I'm not saying you have to put him in the hospital. Just pin him for crying out loud." 

Ryder slowly and reluctantly walked up to the mat. "I'm sorry man," Ryder said quietly, then leaped forward and grabbed Daniel, pulling him to the ground. Daniel tried to fight him off as best as he could, but Ryder clearly had much more training. He had pinned Daniel within ten seconds of starting. 

Coach Masters blew his whistle once. "Ryder." The boys got up and stood facing each other again. "Two more times Ryder. Daniel, try and at least fight back this time."

Ryder threw himself at Daniel. Down. Then one more time. Down again.

"That's enough Ryder, I think Mr. Jenkins learned his lesson." The boys stood again once more, both sweating. "Back to work boys. Maybe you'll think again before making a joke of my class, Daniel." Coach Masters said sternly. 

Ryder returned to his mat, and Daniel walked back towards me. But when he reached me and I put my hand on his shoulder, he shrugged it off and walked out the back door.  

"Daniel, wait!" I said, running down the stairs after him. "Are you hurt?"

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"Just leave me alone."

"No, I won't." I said sternly. "What happened back there?" 

"Oh you know what happened!" Daniel yelled, and I flinched. He turned around on his heel and faced me. "That 'friend' of yours, Ryder, just humiliated me in front of everyone."

"I thought you two were finally getting along!" I cried. 

"Yeah, I thought so too. But he's a fake, Annalise."

"What's going on here?"  We both turned around and Ryder had followed us down the staircase. He looked pretty confused. 

Daniel scoffed and rushed away, making me run after him. 

We approached his room, and he threw the door open. I followed him inside, trying to calm him down. "Daniel, please. It's not a big deal. Everyone knows we're new around here." I cried. Daniel threw his closet door open and started throwing his clothes into a suitcase. "Daniel stop that!" I yelled, grabbing onto his arm. He slapped my arm away and I shrieked in surprise. 

"Daniel, that's enough!" Ryder warned. 

Daniel growled. "You. You just stay away from us!" He roared as he stormed into the bathroom to retrieve his belongings. He threw them into the suitcase as well. 

"Daniel, why are you doing this? I can't let you leave me!" I begged. He zipped the suitcase up and grabbed the handle. 

"Fine. I'll give you a choice. Me or him." 

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You can stay here with him, or you can come home with me." He replied.

"Daniel, you know I wouldn't have anywhere to stay."

"Then we'll just move in somewhere, and we can be together." He said, caressing my cheek. 

"Daniel-- I just-- you know-- I can't leave!"

He glared at Ryder. "What do you see in him?" He asked. "Why would you want to be with him, when you could have someone like me?" He closed his eyes and sighed. "We've been inseparable for years, Annalise. We've been through so much together. What does he have that I don't have?" He asked.

Wait, did he think that Ryder and I were like... together? No way.

"Daniel, it's not like that!" I yelled. "Both of you are my friends. Why can't you just accept that?"

"I don't think Ryder thinks of you that way," Daniel scowled. 

"Oh please, I could say the same thing about you." Ryder growled. "Just best friends? Please. You follow her like a lost puppy."

Daniel ran at Ryder and jumped on top of him, throwing as many punches as possible. But he didn't seem to learn his lesson from earlier today because Ryder easily pinned him down. After it seemed that Daniel had calmed down, Ryder got off of him, and Daniel stood up, putting both hands on my shoulders. I stiffened.

"Annalise, I'll say this one more time. Me or him." 

I burst into tears, confused. Of course I just wanted to leave this place with Daniel. I wanted it more than anything. But, if like Ryder and the teachers say, there are people after me, I would only be putting both of us into danger. 

"Daniel, you know I care about you," I said, tears streaming down my cheeks. "But I have to stay here." 

His face fell immediately, and I don't think I have ever seen someone look so heartbroken in my life. After a few seconds, he nodded and picked up his suitcase. 

"Well then." He said, walking towards the door and pulling it open. "Good riddance."

And just like that, the door slammed shut and he was gone. 

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6/5/16

Woo! Two updates in one day!